The Jones Enigma (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Grendel
- Start date
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
He hasn’t
Nick
Administrator
Called a plan b
He’s quick and lively, which makes him stand out compared to the rest of our team, but I certainly don’t see awareness and imagination from him. I was fuming at him wasting that last chance on the left yesterday. He was bullied by Huddersfield, and at 21 I really don’t see him blossoming into the player that people think he is.
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
The hype some have of him his incredible.
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Well from his showings so far he's clearly still far too raw to even be in contention to be a consistent presence in the team next season. Not really sure how that's debatable to be honest.
Unfortunately his goal has skewed the perspective of fans regarding his actual overall ability - on quite epic proportions.
RegTheDonk
Well-Known Member
I guess with the system we play, MR thinks he has better starters. Not seen any U-23 games, is he utilsed in those as an O'Hare or Allen role, or do they play 442? I'm annoyed that others seem to get off the bench before him when you're in need of a goal, but not qualified to question the logic. Maybe it's also an injury thing, if Jodie was chrunched as much as O'Hare he wouldn't make it through many games.
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
He needs to go out on loan next season for his own sake. It seems a lot of people have lost all sense of perspective.
A loan isn’t helping him. Unless he goes out on loan and scores 10+ goals then his career with us is likely over - if I was him I’d be parlaying all this hype into getting a good contract with a L1 or L2 team. His stock is probably never going to be higher than it is right now.
KenilworthSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure the U23s play the same system as the first team for continuity purposes.
SkyblueDad
Well-Known Member
Trouble with loans it’s either upto January or a whole season, it used to be a month at a time which suited better.
fatso
Well-Known Member
I think the fact that O'hare has been Virtually ever present has hampered Jones's appearances, but having said that MR hasn't used him as a sub very often, even when he's had the chance.
You'd have to say that he needs to move on to further his career, which is a shame as I always rated the lad, but we can't carry him if we arnt going to use him.
You'd have to say that he needs to move on to further his career, which is a shame as I always rated the lad, but we can't carry him if we arnt going to use him.
better days
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough I hear COH likes playing with Jones as he thinks together they create more threats to the opposition than O'Hare does on his own
I guess it takes the pressure off O'Hare too as the other team can't share out the yellow cards just taking him out all the time as they often do at the moment
But I suppose we wouldn't be as strong defensively
I wouldn’t mind seeing us start with Vik upfront with Jones and O’Hare just behind against Stoke. Worth giving it a go
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
Are you sure? It seems he has had lots of minor injuries/illnesses at key times when Robins may have wanted to use him.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
He’s been on the bench loads of times and played a lot of U23 games. Robins doesn’t rate him and that’s that
Frostie
Well-Known Member
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
Are you Mark Robins and do you know everything about Jones' fitness this season? I suspect not, so we'll have to wait and see.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
The in the know people say he’s not been offered a new deal - he’s been in 28 match squads and played a total of about 80 minutes all season
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
That;s my take - if we're playing the box the two of them together could prove very tricky for the opposition. If you concentrate on nullifying one then you leave space for the other to capitalise. As much as I admire Allen's contribution, opposition teams aren't going to be that worried about him creatively so will (and do) focus on O'Hare.
Moff
Well-Known Member
Could it be remedied with more pace in defence and a good holding midfielder?
better days
Well-Known Member
Things can change round
At the end of last season Robins had written Jamie Allen off and the lad thought he'd have to look for another club
But a few good performances later he was given a new deal against even his own expectations
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
Well I hope he plays Jones and O'Hare against Stoke and Eccles. The result doesn't matter and if we kearn something for next year that would be far more valuable
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
Based on yesterday he early has something to offer but for his own sake he needs more minutes next season wherever that may be.
The strange thing about Robins rating of Jones is that a few months or so ago he suggested Jones could take the team up another level (after some decent cameos) but then failed to give him a chance to prove it. Unfortunately Jones had a complication with his knee again but even before this Robins was bringing Shipley on instead. Yet Shipley has proven time and again that he is not at the required standard as a midfielder. In Jones' minimal time on the pitch he has shown he can be unpredictable, which is what we need to turn games. He does all the basics, keeping possession and then will suddenly reverse a pass, accelerate between players or turn out of the blue. You can see he has confident in his ability with the ball. His problem seems to be building his confidence in his ability of his body to hold up to challenges.
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
I’ve missed that. Is that right? I’m not surprised
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I think you’re right. He has had a couple of spells out due to COVID. He was also missing from the squad for what must have been at least 6 weeks recently (when he most probably would have got game time) due to a problem with his knee. (I think Better Days mentioned this).
Grendel
Well-Known Member
He’s been available for over 30 games
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
The period when he was most likely to be used, where we were really down to 11 or 12 first team players available, he was injured. I think he has only been available for the last four or five games and could still have been feeling the effects of the latest injury.
I think Jones has shown enough in the brief minutes that he has had to give an idea that he can compete and make an impression at this level.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
I agree, but I think he'll be on his way.
I think Grendels right and MR doesn't fancy him.
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
How do you know that? My guess is you don't. Players are sometimes on the bench these dats when not fully fit. There were times when we didn't have many or any realistic options for the bench.
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
I suspect if Robins doesn't fancy him it's nothing to do with ability but a judgement on whether his body is able to cope with regular football.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
he’s been on the bench for 28 games including games when Shipley was preferred in the attacking role
Legia Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with those saying it would be nice to see Jones and O'hare playing behind Gyokeres. Stoke is the last chance to give it a go so I would like MR to try it from the start of the game, but I suspect Waghorn will get another start, and the best Jones will get will be another cameo.
Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
The point that I made still stands though, at the very period of the season where it is likely he would have played, he was injured again.
You’re right that there have been times when he could have been used but wasn’t. I would also far sooner see Jones coming on than Shipley.
The fact is that we don’t know if there were other circumstances that stopped him being picked. COVID is definitely one. I think Better Days felt that he might have been in line for a start about the time his wife had a baby, but due to his lack of sleep etc, he was passed over.